Shrub rose plant named ‘Radsweet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive single blossoms that are light pink in coloration. The vegetation is vigorous and strong and the growth habit is compact, spreading, and mounding. Attractive ornamental leathery medium-green foliage having a matte finish is formed. Excellent resistance with respect to blackspot and rose midge is displayed. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as distinctive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Radsweet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant of the present invention was created at Greenfield, Wis., U.S.A., by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Radtee’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the ‘Radral’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Radtee’×‘Radral’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

I was attracted to the new variety primarily because of its distinctive light pink blossom coloration and attractive foliage. When mature the blossoms were found to assume an even lighter pink apple-blossom coloration approaching white particularly when exposed to increasing temperatures.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive         single blossoms that are light pink in coloration,     -   (b) exhibits a compact, spreading, and mounding growth habit,     -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,     -   (d) forms attractive leathery medium-green foliage with a matte         finish, and     -   (e) exhibits excellent resistance to blackspot and rose midge.

A new rose variety is provided having attractive light-pink blossoms combined with a propensity for everblooming and disease resistance. The blooming cycle corresponds closely to that of the ‘Radrazz’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836). The foliage displays a sweetbriar fragrance.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The light-pink blossoms contrast nicely with the medium-green foliage.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readily distinguished from its ancestors through an inspection of the blossoms. More specifically, the ‘Radtee’ variety forms smaller flowers with more petals that tend to lack the ability to self-clean. Also, the new variety displays more of a sweetbriar foliage fragrance than that of the ‘Radtee’ variety. The ‘Radral’ variety forms even lighter pink blossoms, a taller growth habit, glossy foliage, and displays less disease resistance that the new variety. Also, the foliage of ‘Radral’ variety lacks a sweetbriar foliage fragrance unlike the foliage of the new variety.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Waso, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible by asexual propagation such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces true to type by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Radsweet’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated rose plants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observed during July while growing outdoors in the ground on their own roots near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 shows typical blossoms in various stages of maturity and a bud of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a flowering plant wherein the attractive compact growth habit and foliage are illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of the new variety during July while growing outdoors in the ground on their own roots near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 75 to 100 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—Approximately 75 to 100 cm on average at the end of             one growing season.         -   Habit.—Compact, spreading, and mounding. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: slightly glaucous, and commonly near             Yellow-Green Group 144A, 144B, and 144C.         -   Thorns.—Size: approximately 1 to 1.6 cm in length on             average, and approximately 0.8 to 1.2 cm in width at the             base parallel to the stem. The larger thorns typically are             present near the base of the more vigorously growing stems             that become flowering shoots. Shape: the upper edge tends to             be more or less straight and to point downwards at an angle             of approximately 25 to 40° below the horizontal, the lower             edge commonly is convex when viewed from above, and the base             configuration is slightly ovate with some narrowing forwards             the base. Quantity: at the lower portion of a flowering stem             approximately 8 to 12 thorns on average are present over a             length of 15 cm, and at the upper portion of a flowering             stem very few thorns are present of any size. Color:             variable and commonly near Green Group 138B, 138C, and 139C             with some purplish color in the greatest concentration near             Greyed-Purple Group 185A at the base which tends to appears             as a wash. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Approximately 8 to 16 cm in length, and approximately             8 to 15 cm in width. The overall size has been found to vary             greatly. Leaves measuring outside the specified ranges             sometimes appear with their size being influenced by the             time within the growing season, the plant vigor being             displayed, location on the stem, and environmental and             cultural conditions being experienced. The leaves with fewer             leaflets tend to display the smaller overall leaf size.         -   Stipules.—Configuration: revolute with two prominent             reflexed horns and an elliptical body. Length: approximately             1.3 to 2.9 cm (average approximately 1.9 cm) from the tip of             the base to the tip of the longest horn. Width:             approximately 0.5 to 1.2 cm (average approximately 0.8 cm)             across the tips of the horns, and approximately 0.3 to 0.8             cm (average approximately 0.6 cm) at the widest portion of             the body. Color (young wings): near Greyed-Purple Group 185A             on the upper surface and near Greyed-Purple 186A on the             under surface. Color (mature wings): near Green Group 137A             on the upper surface and near Green Group 137B on the under             surface. Margin: serrulate to dentriculate with each tooth             commonly being terminated with a reddish somewhat stiff             hardened tip. Texture: wings of young stipules tend to be             glaucous, and wings of mature stipules tend to bear short             reddish hairs at the margin and near the petiole having             lengths approximately 0.1 to 0.2 mm that are near             Greyed-Purple Group 187A and 187B in coloration.         -   Petioles.—Length: typically approximately 1.5 to 2.5 cm, and             most commonly approximately 1.7 to 2.0 cm. Diameter:             typically approximately 1.3 to 2.0 mm, and most commonly             approximately 1.3 to 1.5 mm. Color (upper surface): near             Green Group 137B and 138A. Color (under surface):             Yellow-Green Group 144A and 146C. Texture (upper surface):             bear stiff glandular hairs having lengths of approximately             0.1 to 0.5 mm. Texture (under surface): also bear such stiff             glandular hairs but commonly at a lesser frequency, and bear             a few scattered minute reddish prickles that are near             Greyed-Purple Group 186A in coloration and typically are             approximately 0.8 to 1.2 mm in length and most commonly             approximately 0.8 to 1.2 mm in length. Also, each petiole             commonly bears 1 or 2 larger prickles; however, up to 5             prickles sometimes have been observed.         -   Petiolules.—The upper and lower surfaces commonly are near             Red-Purple Group 187A in coloration.         -   Rachis.—Length: typically approximately 1.0 to 2.5 cm, and             most commonly approximately 1.8 to 2.0 cm. Diameter:             typically approximately 1.0 to 2.1 mm, and most commonly             approximately 1.3 to 1.6 mm. Color (upper surface): when             mature near Yellow-Green Groups 146B, and commonly with some             coloration of near Green Group 137C and Yellow-Green Group             146C. Color (under surface): when mature near Green Group             143C and Yellow-Green Group 146C. Texture: similar to that             of the petioles.         -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7 (with 3 and 5 being more             common). Arrangement: alternate and odd-pinnately compound.             Shape: narrowly elliptical to elliptical to slightly ovate.             Size: terminal leaflets typically are 5.5 to 8.5 cm             (commonly 6.5 to 7.5 cm) in length, and typically are 2.5 to             4.5 cm (commonly 3 to 4 cm) in width. Base: broadly rounded             to broadly cuneate to inequilaterus or strongly obtuse.             Apex: broadly acuminate to abruptly acuminate. Margins:             serrate to serrulate that commonly is slightly to             occasionally strongly revolute. Texture: leathery with a             matte finish. Overall appearance: very dense, and medium             green in coloration. Color (young foliage): both surfaces             are near Greyed-Purple Group 187A and 187B over a green base             coloration, and the venation may include coloration of             Red-Purple Group 59A, and the margins when undergoing             development may include coloration of Red-Purple Group 59A             and Greyed-Purple Group 185A. Color (adult foliage): Upper             surface: near Green Group 137A on the lighter foliage and             near Green Group 139A on the darker foliage. Under surface:             near Greyed-Green Group 191A commonly with veins near             Yellow-Green Group 146C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 2 to 3 blooms on             average in a cluster, occasionally solitary, sometimes up to             5 or more blooms in a cluster, and as many as 40 blooms have             been observed on a vigorous stem during some observations.         -   Sepals.—Length: commonly approximately 18 to 27 mm, and             approximately 22 mm on average. Width: commonly             approximately 4 to 7 mm at the widest point, and             approximately 5.5 mm on average. Extensions: commonly             present and feathery foliaceous, the frequency often ranges             from 0 to 6 or more plus an expanded feathery tip, typically             the shortest sepal has no foliaceous extensions, typically             the next shortest sepal has no foliaceous extensions or             occasionally 1 and rarely 2 foliaceous extensions, typically             the third shortest extension has 2 or 3 and occasionally 4             foliaceous extensions, and typically the 2 longest sepals             have 4 or 5 and occasionally 6 foliaceous extensions plus             the longest and most feathered tips. Apex: commonly narrowly             acuminate to acuminate when lacking a foliaceous extension.             Base: commonly fused to the receptacle and to adjoining             sepals, and hence there is no distinct base configuration.             Overall shape: substantially lanceolate. Texture: the             interior surface commonly is moderately densely covered with             a silvery-white lanate hairs giving an effective color of             near White Group 155C with a light greenish hue to the hairs             which overlay green base tissue, at the margins small             reddish-tipped glandular hairs typically are present which             commonly are approximately 0.1 to 0.5 mm in length and tend             to be more common on sepals which bear foliaceous             extensions, and such glandular hairs are also commonly             sparsely scattered across the outer surfaces of the sepals             and are common on sepals which bear foliaceous extensions.             Color: commonly near Green Group 137C, 143A, and 143B, and             Yellow-Green Group 144A and 144B. On the outer surface the             foliaceous extensions commonly appear to be somewhat             transparent and bear coloration of Greyed-Purple Group 187B             with some green showing through. Number: five.         -   Buds.—Shape: generally ovoid. Length: approximately 1.3 to             1.5 cm on average. Diameter: approximately 0.8 to 1.2 cm.             Size: small. Color (at bud crack): commonly Red-Purple Group             63C. Color (during further opening): rapidly lightens and             changes to near and through Red-Purple Group 62A, 62B, 62C,             and Red Group 36D.         -   Flower.—Form: single. Shape: informal. Diameter: commonly             approximately 5 to 7 cm on average during mid-summer, and is             somewhat variable depending upon the time of the year and             the vigor the plant. Color (when blooming): Upper surface:             the distal portions commonly are near Red-Purple Group 62A,             62B, and 62C, to near White Group 155D, and with the inner             petals sometimes displaying darker areas of Red-Purple Group             68A and 68B which in some instances may appear as thin             lines. The veins tend to impart no different coloration and             may be substantially colorless. Under surface: when fully             open the coloration tends to be substantially the same as             that of the upper surface. Red-Purple Group 73C may             predominate towards the tip with occasional darker areas of             Red-Purple Group 73A and 73B. This coloration lightens with             maturity to Red-Purple Group 62C and 62D to near White Group             155D and near Yellow Group 4C and 4D at the base. Occasional             spots and darker areas of Red-Purple Group 68A and 68B are             present. Lastingness: the coloration is somewhat sensitive             to heat and light which tend to lighten the initial pink             coloration. Flowers that develop during the hotter months             display coloration that is lighter pink and fades to near             apple-blossom white. During the cooler months the flowers             are medium-light pink in coloration. Fragrance: light. Petal             form: narrowly to broadly obovate. Petal number:             approximately 6 to 11, and commonly 7 to 9 on average. Petal             base: narrowly cuneate to cuneate to narrowly rounded to             rounded. Petal apex: broadly obtuse to rounded to truncate             and rarely broadly acute, softly apiculate to occasionally             slightly emarginated, occasionally slightly praemorsus, and             tends to become revolute as the flower matures. Petal             margin: mostly entire, and occasionally becoming slightly             undulate towards the apex. Petaloid number: commonly 0 to             approximately 5, and most commonly approximately 2 per             flower on average. Petaloid shape: highly variable, and most             commonly falcate. Petaloid length: approximately 10 to 29 mm             across the arc. Petaloid width: approximately 3 to 19 mm at             the widest point. Petaloid texture: typically opaque,             glabrous, and soft. Petaloid color (both sides): near             Red-Purple Groups 62A, 62B, 62C and 62D with Red-Purple             Group 62B and 62C being prominent, Red Group 49D to White             Group 155C and 155D towards the base, and Yellow Group 4C at             the very base. Also, some petaloids display areas of             Red-Purple Group 68A and 68B that appear as scattered darker             areas that typically are present on the inner surface and             towards the edges. Lasting quality: blossoms commonly last             approximately 1½ to 2 weeks on the plant depending upon             environmental conditions, and sometimes up to 10 days when             cut and placed in a vase. Petal drop: very good, the petals             drop cleanly and freely. However, under prolonged rainy             growing conditions the petals may persist somewhat. Stamen             number: approximately 100 on average. Anther size:             immediately prior to and during anthesis approximately 1.2             to 2 mm in length. Anther color: Greyed-Yellow Group 160A             and 160B when the flowers first open, and with changing             maturity Greyed-Orange Group 163C. Filament length: variable             and commonly approximately 2 to 10 mm. Filament color:             Yellow-Orange Group 20A near the base, thereafter towards             the anther Yellow-Orange Group 20B, and Yellow Group 13B and             13C immediately adjacent the anther. Pollen: it appears that             viable pollen is formed in a sparse quantity, no active             pollen discharge is observed in the flowers, and when the             anther is crushed some yellow-orange pollen has been             observed. Pistils: commonly approximately 32 to 40, and             approximately 37 on average. Stigma size: commonly             approximately 0.5 to 0.9 mm in diameter, and approximately             0.7 mm on average. Stigma color: Greyed-Yellow Group 162A.             Style length: commonly approximately 8 to 11 mm,             approximately 9 mm on average, and commonly with kinks.             Style color: near Greyed-Purple 185B and 185C through             Red-Purple Group 60B and 60C, and approaching Greyed-Purple             Group 185A with the lightest coloration being present at the             base. Receptacle length: commonly approximately 7.5 to 9.5             mm, and approximately 8.5 mm on average. Receptacle width:             commonly approximately 6.2 to 7.5 mm, and approximately 6.5             mm on average. Receptacle texture: glaucous with a waxy             coating, commonly smooth over approximately 75 percent of             the surface, the lower 25 percent of the surface commonly             bears scattered minute stiff reddish glandular hairs and             occasional prickles having length of approximately 0.1 to 1             mm and a coloration of near Greyed-Purple Group 187B that             are more common on the lower approximately 10 to 15 percent             of the surface. Receptacle color: near Green Group 143A and             143B. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and strong.         -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous during the             growing season.         -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent with respect to blackspot.         -   Resistance to pests.—Excellent with respect to rose midge.         -   Formation of hips/seeds.—None observed to date when grown in             a greenhouse, and when grown outdoors a small quantity of             fruit has set. It is not known whether such fruit is viable.

The ‘Radsweet’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive single blossoms that are light pink in coloration, (b) exhibits compact, spreading, and mounding growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) forms attractive leathery medium-green foliage with a matte finish, and (e) exhibits excellent resistance to blackspot and rose midge; substantially as herein shown and described. 